My Mundane Mid-Life

Oscar Night

Michael — 2007-02-25T23:53:37-06:00

Well, the weather wasn't as treacherous as yesterday, but it still wasn't good. We traveled into the city to go to B&B's for our annual Oscar party.

OK, I have to admit.. I love the preshow... commenting on the dresses (not much variation in the guys' clothes, so there wasn't much to comment on there) Most of the commenting and the yelling we were doing was because of Jennifer Hudson's silver mini-jacket over her brown dress... and oh, why do they make pockets in gowns? She had her hands in her pockets!

I loved the show this year - Ellen DeGeneres did a GREAT job... the show never bogged down... it flowed but it was STIILL TOO FRIGGIN' LONG...

Harry Letterman - 9 months

Michael — 2004-08-02T22:56:18-06:00

David letterman just showed a picture of his son Harry that he took yesterday after giving him a bath. Harry is already 9 months old!

Sexie

Michael — 2003-10-02T23:45:44-06:00

We all went downtown and met at
The Berghoff for a great German dinner. How could I have lived in Chicago all my life and never have gone there? It was just a short one block walk after dinner to the Shubert Theater. We had seats in the Loge, which I never realized before that they are "crooked". We "listed to port", or leaned to the left. It's like The Loge is "crowned" and if you're not sitting in the center, you are leaning to the outside. So very weird. So, why are we here?

We're here to see Eddie Izzard in his latest global tour - Sexie. This man is a comic genius and doesn't get to tour often. We had to go see him.

Well, Eddie walks out onto stage and his wardrobe is cranked-up a notch since the last time we saw him - black knee-length dress slit up the side (which he had to change during intermission to a short pleated skirt because he had problems with the material), black leather laced boots with 3" heels, black bustier and a blue military style coat with red piping. Oh, and breasts. Yes, Eddie talked at length about acquiring a wearing breasts, and how they could be used to manipulate people.

He talked at length about Greek Mythology, neanderthals (even about a Neanderthal version of Changing Rooms), how Balsamic Vinegarette didn't seem to exist until only 8 years ago, his Yemeni Passport and travel since 9/11 (or as he said, November 9 - which took people a while to "get") (yes, he was born in Yemen), and riding horses in a French Western (or, Baguette-ie Western) in Mexico - (Blueberry).

His stuff is clever, smart, and constantly shifting subjects to keep you on your feet, always coming back and referencing something earlier.

He was on stage for 2� hours, with a short intermission.

You absolutely must see one of Britain's best comedians.

Varekai

Michael — 2003-08-19T23:28:38-06:00

Tonight, Carol and I drove into the city. After a quick dinner at Twisted Spoke, we drove over to the United Center in search of the yellow and blue tent city of Cirque du Soleil.

We're here to see Varekai, the latest touring show from Cirque. A tour usually only comes around every three years, so when Cirque comes to town we have to see it. Times are rough for all of us. We normally go with other friends, but no one could afford going. We can't either, but we had to go. This show was going to be different for us. Bravo had run a 13-episode series Cirque du Soleil Fire Within that documented the the trials of putting this show together. You got to meet the cast and see what it was like to develop a Cirque show. You got attached to a few of them, only to see them fail and leave. Will the rest of the performers still be in the show? Anyway, we made it into The Grand Chapiteau. Our seats were on the main cross-aisle. The show was wonderful, as always. And as always, you can feel some acts aren't as strong as the others, and some of the acts just blow you away!

Go see the show. It's a must. Go. Find out if it's coming to a city near you. Go!

Maurice Gibb 1949 - 2003

Michael — 2003-01-12T07:35:40-06:00

Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees died this morning after emergency surgery last week. Carol loved the Bee Gees. About 15-20 years ago, I remember looking at some photos of the band with Carol and we found one of Maurice and it looked exactly like me. Then another, and still another. So, even though I didn't follow the band as much as she did, I had a little bit of a connection (though totally subjective) with them.
Update: The brothers are upset and are questioning his treatment
Update: Maurice Gibb died because he had an inherited condition that caused his small intestine to twist, which cut its access to the blood supply
Update: The autopsy report at The Smoking Gun

Plasticine rules!

Michael — 2002-10-15T19:09:47-06:00

Cool! Wallace and Gromit are back!!! The BBC has posted the first of ten short Wallace and Gromit short films from Aardman Animations. The series is called "Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions", and focuses focus on a different invention that Wallace has built to help him around the home (such as The Autochef, The Bully Proof Vest, A Christmas Cardomatic, The Snoozatron, The Snowmanatron, The Turbo Diner, The Tellyscope, Shopper 13, and The 525 Crackervac - and the current one that you can view for free - The Soccamatic). Go! Watch!

Muslims, mismanagement, and Grammy's

Michael — 2002-02-27T21:16:11-06:00

Read USA Today this morning and I got pissed. Right there, front page, an article that says that only 18% of those polled in six Islamic countries say they believe Arabs carried out the attacks, even though all 19 guys involved in the hijackings and crashes were Arab men. 61% say Arabs were not responsible. HUH? Is this because the local news reporting is a little skewed in these countries?

Then I pick up today's Chicago Tribune only to see a big article on the front of the business section about my old company - marchFIRST, stemming from the bankruptcy trustee filing court papers saying "top officials directed or approved a pattern of wasteful dealings that last year drove the company into bankruptcy". Sounds all too familiar, and, even though none of this was surprising to me, it's the first time that I've actually seen it in print.

Watching the Grammy's tonight - still a bit boring. It's a long awards show that spans so many different areas of music that it's hard to get excited about. And I'm not sure how to make it better.

Chuck Jones

Michael — 2002-02-23T09:21:54-06:00

Damn... I am really upset about this... one of the guys that really molded my childhood (and even significantly twisted my adulthood) died - Chuck Jones. I mean, Rabbit of Seville is a classic, the great Rabbit Seasoning, the uncut version of Bully for Bugs ("What a gulla-bull! What a nin-cow-poop!"), my favorite Daffy Duck - Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century and Robin Hood Daffy ("Yikes! and Away!"). Michigan J. Frog singing "Hello My Baby" in One Froggy Evening. I can still hear "Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!" from What's Opera, Doc? And the Geisel-interpreted visualss of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Man, Chuck, I have a hole in my heart from your passing, but your works will always live on...

Ad Meter results

Michael — 2002-02-04T09:26:22-06:00

OK, now in the battle of the SuperBowl Commercials, USA Today's Ad Meter says the Bud Lite "Satin Sheets" commercial was highest rated. My favorite came in second, the Bud Light Falcon that wreaked havoc on an outdoor cafe (I wonder if Barry saw this - he refuses to dine al fresco). Third was Bud's Cedric the Entertainer playing matchmaker. Top three to Bud! They always have entertaining commercials. (The entire list is here.) (Don't know how much longer it'll be available, but you can view all of the commercials here or here.)